"No, I can't think like that. If I harbor resentment, I will fall into darkness. No…" Hibiki tried his best to suppress the negative emotions in his heart.
Meanwhile, in the other battle.
"I've defeated many Star Spirit Mages and taken their keys!"
"Of course, I'll take your key from you too!"
Leo's expression was utterly furious when he heard what Angel said.
Lucy looked at the somewhat timid Aries before her, feeling very hesitant. Finally, seeing Leo's pained expression, she made up her mind.
"It's rare to meet, but we've directly become enemies…"
"Loki, go back to your own world."
Lucy, holding Leo's key, was about to force the gate closed.
But she was stopped by Leo, who was beside her: "Lucy, don't underestimate me. Even if we were once friends, we now serve different masters, so we are enemies."
"This is also the value of us Star Spirits!"
On the other side, Aries, when she heard what Leo said, also nodded solemnly in agreement: "Yes, even if the opponent is a benefactor, we should still defeat the enemy for our master."
"This is the pride of us Star Spirits!"
Aries and Leo each gathered wool magic and light magic in their hands, and with determination, they charged at each other, engaging in battle.
"How can this be? This can't be… This isn't right…"
Lucy looked at the two fighting before her. She could clearly see the pain between Leo and Aries, yet she was powerless to change anything.
Hot tears overflowed from her eyes, and she bit her teeth tightly, feeling the same empathy and immense sorrow in her heart.
Lucy's heart, full of love for the Star Spirits, also transformed into a bright aura that suddenly illuminated Byakuya-Hibiki, who was currently fighting against darkness. It slowly dispelled the darkness within Hibiki's heart, but the darkness still clung on, refusing to give up, entangled with the light.
Hibiki also looked up at Lucy, whose tears were streaming down her face, and couldn't help but murmur, "Lucy, thank you…"
"As expected of the head of the Zodiac, fighting with Aries was a bit of a disadvantage!"
However, Angel had no emotion about this at all, and she intended to deliver a fatal blow to the two: "In that case, open the gate of the Sculptor Constellation - Caelum!"
"Aim for Aries and Leo as they entangle, and shoot them dead!"
After hearing Angel's command, the Sculptor Constellation Star Spirit transformed into a light-speed cannon. A black-green beam of light slowly formed, and with a bang, it instantly pierced through both Aries and Leo.
"Ah~ Leo, Aries." Lucy also watched this scene in shock, her eyes becoming hollow, but the heartache and love she felt for the Star Spirits were constantly transmitted to every Star Spirit.
"Hahaha, what a successful blow!" Angel laughed heartily nearby, very Happy that her command could achieve such a victory.
Clearly, their attitudes were completely different.
"Aries! I'm sorry, Lucy~" Leo could deeply feel Lucy's emotions and also felt apologetic about it.
"Leo, you've found a good master, that's wonderful…" Aries could also deeply feel Lucy's love and care for the Star Spirits. With tears in her eyes, she was relieved that Leo had finally escaped his suffering.
The two Star Spirits, filled with guilt for each other, turned into specks of light and slowly disappeared into the air.
"There are actually people like this." Lucy clenched her fists, suppressing the grief in her heart.
"Anyway, Star Spirits don't die, so what does it matter!"
"But they still feel pain; they also have emotions. And how can you be considered a Star Spirit Mage like this?!"
"Too much nonsense, Gemini! Take the keys from her!"
Angel looked at the pained Lucy with disdain and directly commanded Gemini to snatch the keys.
"Impossible! Anything but the keys!"
Lucy's eyes revealed her resolute will to protect the Star Spirits. She would never hand them over to such a person, not even in death.
"What kind of look is that? It's infuriating! Gemini, hurry up!" Angel looked at Lucy's eyes, as if seeing her own despicable self, which also made her unhappy.
"Quickly release Aries! That child was abused by her previous master and lived in constant pain!" Lucy slowly recounted what Aries had experienced before.
Gemini, standing before her, also showed a hint of sadness in his eyes. Looking at the pained Lucy before him, his raised hand simply couldn't bring itself to strike.
"Gemini, didn't you hear my command?!"
"Ah~" Lucy was kicked flying by the fake Lucy that Gemini had transformed into, falling into the water.
Lucy slowly stood up, her eyes still firm, but in her hand, she held another key, that of Taurus.
"I just want Aries and Loki to be together forever. As long as they can live happily, I'll give up anything!"
Lucy's magic power slowly gathered in the Taurus key in her hand, emitting a dazzling light. A voice of love for the Star Spirits echoed in Gemini's ears.
"Mama… I love Star Spirits the most."
"Star Spirits are not shields; how can you abandon a companion who is about to disappear before your eyes?"
All the past moments between Lucy and her Star Spirits transformed into beautiful sounds, entering Gemini's ears. Tears of emotion also streamed down the fake Lucy's face.
"Lucy…" Seeing this, Natsu directly disregarded their battle and wanted to rush in to deal with Angel, but suddenly a hand stopped him.
"Taros, please, defeat the enemy before us, open—Taurus…" Lucy murmured, holding onto her last hope, wanting to summon Taurus. But just as the last words escaped her lips, a pair of hands gripped her neck.
When Angel saw Gemini standing still and the key emitting a dazzling light, her heart tightened, as if something had gone beyond her plan. But seeing Hibiki behind Lucy, she immediately became Happy again.
"Haha, even this man has fallen into darkness!"
Lucy also glanced at Hibiki behind her in surprise, then suddenly heard Hibiki say to her: "Thank you, Lucy. I almost fell into darkness. I will transmit the only Super Magic knowledge to you; you will definitely be able to cast it successfully."
A large golden magic circle formed beneath their feet, and a powerful magic power surged around them, freezing Angel's smile in mid-air.
"What is this? So many… strange symbols and figures are echoing in my mind." Lucy looked up, receiving a vast amount of magical knowledge. A golden magic circle slowly appeared in her eyes.
"Damn it, Gemini, Caelum, I give you absolute commands: interrupt their magic!" Angel seemed to realize something and quickly issued an undeniable command to the two Star Spirits.
"It's too late, Lucy, I'll leave the rest to you!" Hibiki looked at Angel mockingly. After the knowledge transfer was complete, he collapsed into the river from exhaustion.
"Heaven's Measure, Heaven's Opening, summon all stars, gather all light, appear before me… fully open all barren gates, all eighty-eight stars of the heavens, illuminate, Star Map History!"
As Lucy murmured, the river area immediately transformed into a dazzling starry sky, with countless stars circling within it.
"Gemini, Caelum, why aren't you moving? Hurry!" Angel urged frantically. The two Star Spirits also gathered their attacks at this moment and instantly struck at Lucy.
But when they got close, they were completely shattered by the starlight. As Lucy spoke her final words, all the stars rapidly smashed into Angel.
"Ah, ahh~"
Angel lay in the river, completely unconscious. This time, Lucy had retained a little magic power, and the Super Magic she used was still very powerful, completely defeating her.
"Lucy~ Well done!"
"Love~ I was so worried about you, Lucy."
Natsu and Happy also hugged Lucy and cheered.
Carla, on the side, was once again shocked by the strength of the Fairy Tail members.
To be continued~
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